Wallace High School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted in May 2018, following a previous evaluation of “very good” in 2015. The inspection proceeded despite “action short of strike” by teaching unions, which resulted in non-cooperation with the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI). Consequently, the report notes that the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the impact of school actions or safeguarding arrangements, and cannot “assure parents/carers... of the quality of education provided.”

Strengths

• The senior leadership team implemented “well-planned and targeted improvement work” effectively, leading to pupils continuing to achieve “excellent outcomes in public examinations.”
• A “well-established data team” analysed qualitative and quantitative data to “very good effect,” aiding in setting grade boundaries, tracking progress, and supporting pupils with additional needs.
• Pupils were described as “confident and highly motivated,” speaking “very positively” about their involvement in school life and the support they receive.
• Vice-principals conducted a review of Key Stage 3 internal examinations to “quality assure the range, balance and rigor” of assessment questions.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no specific areas for improvement, as the industrial action prevented a full evaluation of the school’s practices and their impact.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education,” and pupils reported feeling safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the strike action.